A Soul-Refreshing Day At The Beach

There are folks who go to the ocean to cook their skin, read books they wouldn't touch at home and whiff the buttery scent of tanning oil.

This is an ocean trip for the rest of us.

At Beavertail State Park, the ocean collides with land more violently than it does anywhere else in New England south of Maine. And Maine is too far for a day trip.

Here, the rocky thrust of land juts into Narragansett Bay, which presented a danger for old ships, whose captains looked to the Beavertail Light for assistance, but delights anyone who craves a more rugged ocean experience than building sand castles.

This is a place for folks who want to stand upon the rocky shore and feel the salt spray on their faces. For those aching for the wind to whip at their pant legs. For those who, freed from their tiny mauve cubicles for a day, want to revel in the thunderous cacophony...

Wait. That's too much too soon.

Half the fun of going to Beavertail is getting there.

Some folks take trips the way others do taxes. They read maps as if they were instructions and plot a course to the nearest highway and quickest return. You know who you are, and you will not enjoy Beavertail. That's a promise.

A much better idea is to turn up "Born To Run" real loud and do what the man says. Roll down the window, and let the wind blow back your hair as you glide over idyllic Connecticut back roads in search of Rt. 138, which can be followed all the way to Jamestown.

The ride takes you through scenic farmlands and rural towns where suburbia has not yet fully sprawled. The more adventurous might wish to deviate from Rt. 138 when it hits Rt. 165, just before the Rhode Island border, and take a detour through the Arcadia Management Area, where they might see the odd fox or deer.

But enough about the road taken.

As soon as the Jamestown Bridge is in the rearview, thoughts turn immediately to the ocean as the air becomes thick with salt. Beavertail State Park, on the south side of Conanicut Island, can be sensed before it can be seen.

The road grows narrower and the vegetation changes, and suddenly the water is all around you, and the lighthouse looms in the distance.

The park covers 153 acres, including hiking trails - but ignore those for now, and proceed directly to the main attraction. At the end of the park's horseshoe-shaped road (Beavertail Road), there are two parking areas that overlook the ocean.

Park, get out, and breathe deep.

On days with choppy seas, the water will break on the rocks, sending mist into the hair of those careless about where they stand. The nimble afoot can climb on the rocks and find a seat carved by nature over millions of years. From one spot, a natural little amphitheater, it's possible to watch the surf crash beneath your feet and (sometimes) feel your soul get wet.

And your shoes, too.

Those who prefer more certain footing can walk the flat road around the light- house and get almost as thrilling a view.

The original lighthouse was built in 1749, but it burned to the ground in 1753. The rubble tower that replaced it lasted until 1856, when the present granite lighthouse was built.

History buffs will want to check out the information about shipwrecks on the little signs scattered throughout the park and stop at the museum (open daily starting Sunday). But mostly this is a place to leave behind the past and the present, the beeper and the phone, and simply revel in the profound joy that comes from being outdoors with nothing else to do.

People-watch. Go ahead. Everyone else is. Study the alert stillness of the fishermen (Beavertail is one of the best places for salt-water fishing in New England) or the concentration of the artists trying their hand at seascapes. Watch the locals, who seem willing to sit back and let it all be.

Stay until hunger overtakes you and forces a reluctant retreat back to the mainland.

One last thing. No trip to the Rhode Island shore is complete without a stop for chowder and clam cakes. There are too many seafood restaurants to mention, but those who want the real thing (as far as clam cakes are concerned) would do well to stop at Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett near Point Judith.

Eat. Then turn up "Car Wheels on Gravel Road" real loud, and take the highway back home.

BEAVERTAIL STATE PARK is open from sunrise to sunset. Admission and parking are free. Information about the park can be found on a number of websites. One of the most useful is www.lighthouse.cc/beavertail. The best back-roads directions can be found at maps.google.com.

Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 last week, making the new operating system available to the vast majority of the PC and Windows tablet universe. For those who were frustrated by Windows 8, this should be a welcome update. So how do you jump on board?

Grocery shoppers are demanding more fresh foods, and retailers are responding by making more room for produce, meats and other "perimeter foods" along the outer edges in stores, according to Consumer Reports. The freshness trend isn't only having an impact on the layout of American supermarkets;...

Summer is a great time for running in Connecticut — outside of the heat and humidity, the swarms of mosquitoes and flies and the crowds trying to enjoy this short-lived season of sunshine. Besides that, it's great getting a chance to lay down the ear warmers and unearth those tank tops. But once...

Downtown Madison, Connecticut, has the feel of a beach town, though the beach itself is nearly 2 miles away. In addition to shops and restaurants, the town has one of the best independent bookstores in the state and a century-old independent movie theater.

With a sister in Chicago and kids in California, I'm always on the lookout for airfare savings. I check for cheap flights on Priceline.com and Travelocity.com and get price drop alerts on my favorite routes from AirfareWatchDog.com, BookingBuddy.com and Yapta.com.